Tracy chapman

A lot of kids spent more time out of school than in, but I always loved school and thought it was my way out of Cleveland, and out of poverty.

You have to pay attention to the moment and make it the best it can be for you. I've been trying to do that. It's really made a major difference for me. I'm a happier person.

I don't try to project any image at all, other than the person that I am.

There are good reasons for being in jail - for protesting.

I think it's important, if you are an artist, to use your music to stand up for what you believe in.

I meet people in my daily life, people who seem to experience some change and some growth on a personal level, and that gives me hope.

I may be revered or defamed and decried; But I tried to live my life right.

People's real hopes and dreams can be distorted and misdirected and packaged until you're not sure what you really want or what you even really need.

My older sister encouraged me from early on and bought me one of the first guitars I had. She listened to all of the crappy songs that I wrote when I was 8 years old and encouraged me to keep doing...

Some things remain fragments, just the lyrics and melodies or a line or two or a verse.